Stud (27 page)

Tarq might have been carrying the heaviest load, but Lucy’s feet were killing her. Despite her moccasins’ relatively thick sole, she half expected to find that her feet had been reduced to a mass of bleeding blisters. However, upon removing her moccasins, though the cuts she’d sustained while wading through the creek hadn’t yet healed, there were no new wounds. Eyes closed, she was absently rubbing her heel when Tarq took her foot in his hands.

His touch was nearly as orgasmic as his cock syrup, and her involuntary gasp drew a smile from him as he began a gentle massage. Lucy lay back and gazed up at the sky while he worked a different kind of magic on her.

“Better?” he asked as he lifted her other foot.

“Much. That feels
wonderful.
Don’t stop.”

He chuckled softly and continued. Her mind drifting blissfully, she didn’t even notice he was purring until his hands slid farther up her leg. “You know, there’s nothing like a little taste of joy juice to take your mind off your feet.”

“Joy juice? You mean that syrupy stuff your dick secretes? Good name for it. Says it all.”

He nodded. “Yes, and nothing will make you feel better than a good, hard orgasm.”

Lucy sighed. “True. I don’t suppose you could do that and still massage my feet?”

“You just watch me.” He lay down beside her, his groin near her head, his hands still on her feet.

Lucy turned on her side and unzipped his jeans. His thick cock sprang through the opening and she scooted closer, taking it in her mouth. As ever, he tasted like forbidden fruit: succulent yet firm, and intoxicatingly delicious. Then an unsettling thought occurred to her and she backed off. “I’d really hate to get caught like this. We should probably make it quick.”

“If you use your hands while you suck me, I’ll come faster.”

“Gotcha.” Spreading his glistening fluid from head to root, she sucked the head while her hands worked the shaft. This time, he wasn’t holding anything back, thrusting through the tunnel she created with her hands with surprising vigor.

Her sore feet became a distant memory with her first orgasm, and when his semen flooded her mouth, she forgot she had feet altogether.

Groaning, she rolled over onto her back. “Great. My feet feel fine, but now I need a nap.”

“No time for that,” he said, zipping up his pants. “But I can give you a little pick-me-up anytime you like.”

Lucy giggled. “Never a dull moment with you around, is there?”

“I certainly hope not.”

“What about you? Do you feel better now?”

Tarq sat up and reached for her moccasins. “It wasn’t about me this time, Lucy. That one was strictly for you.”

As hard as his dick had been, Lucy had her doubts about that. “But you needed it too. Didn’t you?”

His eyes were focused on her moccasins as he put them on her feet. “That goes without saying. If you’re within ten meters of me, I need you, want you—”

Tarq froze for a brief moment before surging to his feet, knife in hand. Lucy’s heart leapt into her throat as she heard a footstep behind her.

“Well, well, well… What have we here?”

Chapter 18

Lucy stared up at the man who stood before Tarq, a mocking expression on his handsome though rather harsh-featured face. Of medium height with broad, powerful shoulders and a coppery tint to his skin, he appeared to be human, but his eyes were the electric blue of a Davordian. His jet-black hair was straight and long, pulled back in a single braid, and he wore a belted tunic that reached his knees under a coarsely woven robe, both olive green in color. Dusty brown boots and pants made from animal hide encased his legs. She’d never seen him before. “Who
are
you?”

“I should be asking you that question, since you have trespassed on my land.”

“
Your
land?” Lucy echoed. “I didn’t think
anyone
owned these mountains.”

“Squatter’s rights, then,” the man conceded with a nod. “Nevertheless, this is my home.”

“You live here… alone?” Tarq asked.

Ignoring this query, the man narrowed his eyes at Tarq and asked a question of his own. “Why are you here?”

“We were… attacked,” Tarq replied. “And then escaped to these mountains for safety.”

The man’s brow rose. “Safety? In the Eradics?” He laughed mirthlessly. “You’ve obviously been misinformed.”

“We knew the mountains were dangerous, but the men who attacked me posed a more immediate danger.”

“Ah. So, only
you
were attacked. That explains a great deal. And how did you manage to escape?”

Tarq gestured behind him. “She has a pulse pistol.”

“I stunned them.”

His smile was grim as his disturbing blue eyes raked Lucy’s body. “Pity you didn’t kill them.”

Lucy shrugged. “Well, I
did
tie them up. But we think they’ve gotten loose and are looking for us.”

The man shook his head. “They don’t dare venture into this region. They know better—at least, they do now.”

“So you know them?” Tarq asked.

“Yes, I know them, and if we ever find a safe path out of these mountains, they will pay for their crimes.”

“We?” Tarq prompted.

“To answer your previous question, no, I am not alone. There are… others.”

Rufus trotted up and sat down beside Lucy, his tail thumping. The man stared at the dog for a long moment and then nodded. “Akeir speaks highly of you.”

Lucy’s eyes darted back and forth between man and dog. “Akeir? You mean Rufus?”

“You may call him Rufus if you like—he does not object—but his name is Akeir.”

Lucy suddenly realized who this man might be. “Your name wouldn’t happen to be Traldeck, would it?”

“No, I am called Vertigan. Traldeck is my brother.”

“Half brother, actually,” said another man who was now approaching. The resemblance between the two men was striking, but unlike his brother, this man had flashing black eyes. “We share the same mother but have different fathers.”

“Then you must be—”

“Lucy!”

Natasha came flying up behind Traldeck, followed by an assortment of alien beings. As she got to her feet to receive Nat’s exuberant hug, Lucy spotted a Norludian, a Zebtan, two Vetlas, a Sympaticon, and one other creature she couldn’t identify.

“—Nat’s husband.” Lucy hugged her friend fiercely. “Oh, Nat, when I saw what was left of your house, I was afraid you’d been killed!” Taking a step back, she held Natasha at arm’s length, running her eyes up and down her form, searching for signs of injury. “You weren’t hurt, were you?”

“I’m okay now,” Nat replied. She held up her right arm, displaying a puckered scar. “I had some burns, but they’ve healed. What are you
doing
here?”

Best
not
to
tell
her
everything
at
once…
“I finally decided to take you up on your offer and come for a visit.”

“Meaning you ran away from home,” Natasha said with a knowing smile. “Thank God.” She nodded toward Tarq. “And who’s this guy?”

“Tarq? He’s—”

“She is my mate.”

Lucy had never heard Tarq use that tone of voice before—abrupt and stern, as though issuing a challenge. She gaped at him in dismay, half expecting him to smile or laugh or at least retract his statement. He didn’t do any of those things. He simply sheathed his knife and then stood there—feet apart, arms folded, and jaw set—looking her straight in the eye.

Natasha let out a squeal and hugged her again, bouncing with excitement. “You got
married
? That’s wonderful! Why didn’t you say so?”

Lucy was speechless, so it was Tarq who replied. “She wanted to surprise you.”

“I’m certainly surprised, though I shouldn’t be. I’ve always said someone would find Lucy eventually. She’s the sweetest, most patient, most giving woman I’ve ever met. I’m sure you love her very much.”

Tarq nodded—a bit smugly, Lucy thought. “And she carries my young.”

Nat squealed again. “You’re pregnant?”

Lucy came out of her stupor with a bit of a stammer. “W-with triplets.”

“You’re frickin’ kidding me!” Nat exclaimed. “Triplets? How will you
ever
manage that?” Lucy never got the chance to reply because Nat answered her own question. “Never mind. You always
could
do ten things at once. But triplets? Wow… just… wow.”

Lucy stole a glance at Tarq who was having his hand vigorously shaken by Traldeck. “So you’re a Zetithian? Glad you’re already taken. I’ve heard about you guys.”

“What have you heard?” Natasha demanded. “Oh, don’t bother to tell me. I’ll ask Lucy. She’ll tell me all about him. Won’t you?”

“Um, yeah, I guess…”
Just
as
soon
as
I
figure
out
what
in
the
world
he’s doing.

Tarq knew it was a gamble, but he’d seen the frankly assessing gleam in Vertigan’s eyes and known it for what it was. He was familiar with Davordians and Mordrials both, but had never run across the combination before. Mordrials tended to be lady-killers and most Davordians were confirmed sluts—males
and
females. Not that he had any room to talk, but a cross of those two species was bound to be a sweet-talking horn dog. He was taking no chances of losing Lucy to him.

The look on her face had him a bit nervous, though. He couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She was shocked—which was expected—but if she was happy, it certainly didn’t show. Her friend Nat, on the other hand, seemed properly thrilled. Perhaps some of her enthusiasm would rub off on Lucy. Still, with the other men knowing she wasn’t available, he could relax.

Until he was alone with Lucy again. The gods only knew what she’d say to him then.

Vertigan was already setting off and the others were following. Tarq helped Lucy gather up their belongings while Nat chattered away about their life as refugees in the Eradics. “The vrelnots are really scary. None of us has been eaten by one yet, but it’s bound to happen eventually. Vertigan is able to communicate telepathically with most other animals, but vrelnots either won’t listen or they’re too vicious to care what he might have to say to them.”

Lucy shuddered. “How do you avoid them?”

“We hide out in caves, mostly,” Nat replied. “Vrelnots won’t go underground for some reason—which is fortunate. It’s tough to hunt for food with them around, though. They go after the same prey that we do. Needless to say, they’re better hunters.”

Tarq frowned. “Why don’t you kill
them
?”

Traldeck snorted. “What? Kill vrelnots? Without a laser weapon? Impossible. Pulse weapons just make them mad.”

“What about projectiles?”

Traldeck regarded Tarq as though he were a child who asked too many questions. “Totally useless. Hide’s too tough.”

Having seen the head of one mounted on the wall in the café, Tarq had to assume that to kill one required using a laser to cut off its head. Unfortunately, as potentially lethal weapons, laser pistols were heavily regulated on most worlds and were therefore scarce. Pulse weaponry was much safer, allowing you to stun your opponent without having to commit murder or cause serious injury—unless you turned up the intensity—and most, like the one Lucy carried, didn’t have the “kill” setting on them at all.

Tarq let the subject drop, looping Lucy’s bag over his shoulder as he set off down the mountainside with the others. He really hoped that wherever they were going had a decent water supply. Lucy’s pregnancy concerned him. How many things had she been doing that she shouldn’t? This early, there wasn’t much that could harm the babies, but still, he hated to take the chance. He needed to get her to a place where she would be safe and receive the best of care—soon. Tarq didn’t have a home of his own—he’d been living at The Palace and then out of his speeder or in hotels along the way—but his mind drifted to Lucy and a house where their children could grow and thrive. He had enough money to give her anything she wanted, short of her own planet, and he was aching for the opportunity to do it.

But none of his wealth mattered if she didn’t love him.

***

The shallow cave where he and Lucy had holed up was nothing compared to the one this band of refugees had been living in. The entrance was small and inconspicuous, but once inside, the place was vast, with a high ceiling and gleaming rock formations. The air was fresh—leading Tarq to suspect there was an opening higher up on the mountain—and he could hear the sound of falling water from deep inside the cave, undoubtedly melting snow from the higher elevations. Tarq wondered how many other creatures had been evicted when Vertigan’s little band moved in, but at least they were safe from vrelnots. He didn’t relish the idea of waking up to find one staring him in the face—a possibility that had worried him while they were out in the open.